Firefighters work tirelessly in the industrial zone of Matanzas.

Photo: Andy Jorge Blanco/ Cubadebate

  • Monday August 8.

    12:36 p.m.

My brother, are you still in Matanzas?

As a mother, asere.

I wanted to go there yesterday, as a volunteer firefighter, remember that I was a firefighter and I liked it, besides, I learned a lot.

But my mom got... you know.

Asere, take care there.

It is that she is following the news all day and the fear kills her.

Do you have the number of the fire chief here in Cárdenas, the one who goes to gatherings in your neighborhood? 

That's from mother, bro.

The thing is hard.

  • 11:23 p.m.

Nothing bro, calm down.

Only my head spins around and around.

My dad does want to support me with going.

Maybe it's late, but if you let me and I can do something I can help.

I don't know.

Ah, this is between you and me.

Only my dad knows.

First I'm going to tie everything up and then I'll tell you.

In a year of military service I was in more than 15 or 20 fires, or more, and I was in the Trash Can fire that lasted 12 hours.

I just talked to the cigar.

Because he is in Havana, and he told me to go to the commando to see everything.

I'm going to rest to get up early for that.

  • Tuesday, August 9.

    7:56 a.m.

My brother, I'm on my way to Matanzas.

The command over there will attend to me.

I took a car now.

I couldn't get transportation from the government.

They were meeting with the First Secretary.

Time seems to be on my side.

I got to the stop and it was quick.

My mom was sad, she didn't want me to go, but I told her that everything was going to be fine, that I needed help, I have friends there who now have burns and stuff.

In the end she understood me.

  • 9:12 a.m.

I'm already on my way to Matanzas.

A police motorcycle gave me a bottle.

There in Varadero the transportation was fatal.

When I arrive at the Matanzas command, they will treat me there.

***

Firefighters work tirelessly in the industrial zone of Matanzas.

Photo: Andy Jorge Blanco/ Cubadebate

Idiel Ávila Morfa is 26 years old.

Sometimes people put only a last name.

Here they are essential to put both.

With all the reason in the universe, mothers get angry when their children do not put the last name that corresponds to them.

Ávila comes for Tony, Tony Ávila is her father.

And the Yoslenis Morfa.

What class son they have!

Idiel is my partner, my brother.

It doesn't matter that the fire department says yes, that he gets ready to go out, or that they say no, that he waits to see how the fire behaves.

Idiel tells me all this and the damn lump in my throat returns.